projects and articles by members

Telephone charger for bicycles

The Hague, Netherlands.

In february 2005 at The Hague University, Kids&Science and the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering in collaboration with the city council and KPN phone company, organized a collaboration project in which about 20 children from Vrije School in The Hague (12-13 years old) and 80 first year students Industrial Design, worked together for 10 weeks. Goals were to let children create ideas for sustainable and technological products, and be the "client" for the design students. They helped in the design process, commented on presentations and answered questions about their idea. Students learned to work with children and listen to their ideas, and to work listening to the wishes of a "client" with a different view.

Children in groups came up with 5 ideas for charging their telephone while riding a bicycle. This was under guidance of Kids & Science, an organization which works to help kids see, understand and enjoy the science around them. Students had to develop one of those ideas into a realistic product. Production, costs, materials and ergonomics had all to be researched. Final proposals by each student were exhibited in the City Hall of The Hague.

Job Nieman

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